DRAFT v1

Project: Using collaborative open science tools to improve engagement with the ecology of the Guana River Estuary
Project team: Geraldine Klarenberg, Kristie Perez, Nikki Dix, Nia Morales, and Shirley Baker

The University of Florida and Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTMNERR) are partnering with the local community and broader science community to develop a web-based, public-facing, interactive dashboard to provide access to Guana River Estuary (GRE) datasets. The aim of this work is to support open science and to increase diverse engagement with GRE within the GTMNERR by making the data available interactively, using visualization tools.

To this end, the project team sought feedback from those who have been involved with the GTMNERR to help them to better understand their needs. This document summarizes the results of an online survey that was made available via email, social media, and QR code.

1. Response rate

We received responses from 51 individuals. Out of these, 14 surveys were unfinished. For the purposes of this report, we also took the unfinished surveys into account.

47 respondents filled in the survey based on a link received via email, 3 via social media, 0 via the QR code available at the GTMNERR Welcome Center, and 1 via the QR code available at the kiosk at the dam.

2. Introductory questions

The survey started with asking respondents about their connection to the GTMNERR, how often they engage with the GTMNERR, what data they would be interested in, and whether or not they ever accessed data associated with the GTMNERR.

2.1 GTMNERR connection

Under “Other”, respondents answered:

  • Lake management - FWC
  • Health
  • GTM-NERR MAG member
  • Sometimes bring international visitors for professional conversations (am retired now).

2.2 Level of engagement

2.3 Data of interest (in general)

Under “Other”, the three types of datasets mentioned were: historical maps, water fowl, dam operations, natural resource management practices/techniques/results.

2.4 Previous experience with accessing data associated with GTMNERR

The survey asked respondents whether they had accessed data before, and by “data”, we meant “information, especially facts or numbers, collected to be examined and considered and used to help decision-making; or information in an electronic form that can be stored and used by a computer” for instance spreadsheets, databases, graphs, and maps.”

Based on their response whether or not they had accessed data, respondents answered different sets of questions. The results are summarized in the next two sections.

3. Feedback from respondents that had not accessed data before

For respondents that had not (yet) accessed data (N = 8), the survey asked broad questions on how often they would access these data, and what they would use them for.

These responses will still be linked to the answers in 2.3

Under “Other”, respondents listed:

4. Feedback from respondents that have accessed data before

For respondents that have/had accessed data before, the survey asked which datasets they had accessed, and a number of detailed questions about their experiences related to how they accessed these data, the advantages and disadvantages of this access, the frequency of access, the usage of the data, and respondents’ satisfaction with these data (for their needs).

The following table summarizes the detailed questions per dataset. The numbers represent percentages of respondents, or, in the case of multiple possible answers, percentages of all responses (indicated with an asterisk, *).

There was an option “Other”, to which there was one response: LiDAR data. This information will be added to this table.

q_text Information on fish, shellfish or other aquatic organisms Information on terrestrial animals Information on vegetation (salt marsh or uplands) Reserve or trail closures Water level information (tides, Guana lake, river) Water quality information (including nutrients and algae) Weather information
How do you most frequently obtain or access these data?
Download from website (If so, what website?) 35 57 36 56 30 26 75
Other (please specify) 10 14 21 11 30 19 25
Request from a GTMNERR staff member by email 55 29 43 22 40 55 0
Pick-up paper copy in person 0 0 0 11 0 0 0
What are the advantages of this primary method of accessing or obtaining these data?*
Data is received quickly after request 21 0 12 19 16 18 10
Easy/convenient to access 29 40 42 31 41 35 43
Other (please specify) 7 0 0 12 0 2 0
Requesting the data is quick 14 20 12 12 12 18 19
The format the data are delivered / accessed in is useful 26 30 21 12 25 24 19
There are no advantages 2 10 12 12 6 4 10
What are the disadvantages of the primary method of accessing or obtaining these data?*
Difficult/Complicated to access 13 10 12 10 10 8 19
Other (please specify) 17 30 18 30 19 25 25
Slow to receive 4 10 6 0 10 6 12
The format the data are delivered / accessed in is not user-friendly 13 0 18 0 14 11 6
There are no disadvantages 39 20 35 60 38 39 31
Time consuming to request 13 30 12 0 10 11 6
How often do/did you access or obtain these data?
2-3 times a month 20 14 23 0 5 10 8
Daily 5 14 8 14 10 0 8
Less than once a year 15 0 15 0 20 17 0
Once a month 20 43 23 14 20 17 50
Once every 6 months 35 29 8 57 30 28 17
Once every year 5 0 23 14 0 24 8
At least once a week 0 0 0 0 15 3 8
What do you typically use these data for?*
Decision making (for recreational/educational/scientific visits) 9 20 13 27 18 12 17
Educational purposes 24 27 22 27 15 15 17
Monitoring 15 20 13 9 9 17 4
Research 38 13 26 18 33 35 26
Work-related purposes (not research or education) 15 13 17 9 18 17 26
Other (please specify) 0 7 9 9 6 4 9
How well do these data generally satisfy your need(s)?
Extremely well 5 14 0 14 5 3 8
Moderately well 45 43 46 29 55 41 25
Slightly well 15 29 0 0 15 14 25
Very well 35 14 54 57 25 41 42

The websites that respondents used to obtain data were:

“Other” avenues for accessing data were:

Disadvantages listed by respondents under “Other” were:

In terms of usage of data, respondents added the following under “Other”:

5. Dashboard preferences

The survey asked respondents about their preferences regarding dashboard features (type and format of information, data delivery mode) and how they would access the dashboard.

By “dashboard” we meant a user interface on a computer display that presents (up-to-date) information with visualization tools such as graphs, charts, and tables - in a dynamic and interactive way.

6. Characteristics of respondents

Finally, the survey requested demographic information from respondents. This helps the project team get a better understanding of the dashboard’s target audience.

6.1 Age and gender

6.2 Distance from the GTM

Add professions

Next steps

The project team will still refine details in this report, and distribute/publish the final version by the end of August 2023. This final report will also include dashboard design considerations and recommendations based on the survey results.

Suggestions, comments or requests are very welcome; please email Dr. Geraldine Klarenberg at .

Appendix: Visualizations accompanying section 6

The figures below provide visual interpretations of the table in section 6, on the datasets that respondents have accessed.